Art of and means for metrical optic and acoustic recording and reproduction



'June' '7, 1927. 1,631,450

C. N. ANDREWS ART OF AND MEANS FOR METRICAL OPTIC AND ACOUSTIC RECORDING AND REPRODUCTION Original Filed Feb. 5. 1920 3 ShQQtS-SIIBBf. 1-

June 7, 1927. 1,631,450 C. N. ANDREWS ART OF AND MEANS FOR METRICAL OPTIC AND AGOUSTIP @(ECORDING AND REPRODUCTION Ongmal Filed Feb. 5, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 METRICAL DIRECTORY g N Meir/Z- See/lamb Mefr/cL/brefl'a "l -HM 5].. I aHslnH! l2;

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C. N. ANDREWS ART OF AND MEANS FOR METRICAL OPTIC AND ACOUSTIC RECORDING AND REPRODUCTION Original Filed Feb. 5, 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 -oooooooocom oooooo oooomoocuoooococoooocs 7m w 15L)! m 0 4 L g z a v 4 m \iru. 0 3E N W 1 gooooo ojoomoowbooooe v /0002Bcooico co ia 2 a! wk. 3 e 6 I77 uenfor' g/rusNAndrews m wd oooooo picture units.

Patented June 7, I

uN1 so1-jsTeTEs PATENT OFFICE.

. am se-sw at ,annnnws, or YUCAIPA, CALIFORNIA.

eivr'or Ann mnanjs iion mnr'nicenor'rrc AND Aoous'rId nnconnme Ami Burnonuc'rron. I

- a ui'tm'mnanal.re'a ai s, 19ao, s mi-u No. 356,087. ren ed November 11, 1925.-

An object of ,thislinvention is to make a; chronized v'with the motion picture rojec- 05 popular talkingfmotion picture. t-ion'; and this iinde xed reading tape is then An objectisitof, 'rov-idefora completed iiised by ,ajrea'der in producing o'r'dir'ecting motionpic'turcs .3 appropriate sound actiqnl the"production 'of-a synchronized metrical 5 record deviceand fanlinde'xfor both'so that j soundfrecoid device whichis thenused in no consideration with respect to. the co ordig synohronisin vvith'the indexed motion'pictu're nationgof themotion picture with {thesound-i film fori'tlie purpose of: producing a sound reproduction is demanded of. the actor 'orj mpariiinenttoifthe picture projection; the photographerlduring the recording of marked-difference between former practhe picture' providedthe visual accompan 11 cc, and thepractice of the art in accordments of therequisiteiso'unds are approai ance with' myinventiomflwill be seen when priately' produced. To. this end I provide it is recognized that the stoppage of a sound a. time-'unitindex tape,-the samerconstitut Q record results inielimination'ofthe sound; ing a synchronisti'oindexof the sound and running the-sound-rec'ord slowly makes thefksfo'jund indistinct and difiicult to -be'-un- 4 It frequently-occurs inactual practice that a pleasing actor is not possessed-ofa suitable? sound, as such, isnotdealt with until ever registering voice one voice which is'-pleas -y;thin'gii is prepared for thefinal fifiOducti ing or is appropriate to the partplayed byef-the sound record; the jWhGIflefattentiQpb 20 the actor in producing a particular motionfing'directed to "the" indexed; picture'projem picture, and an-object of this invention is'toi'tion as the medium -of-=i,nieasuremc t3 "and v make it practical to select thev best vocalists. rich-picture projectiiorif'o" beslovvi'edf'dowiii 5 appropriate to; the; respective parts and to, or can be stoppedentirely vgithout iosingfthc apply their yocal lprod-uctions' to-the work jprojcted picture"whichyfremains upohfthe 5 of the actors so thatthe total result of th "screen, irrespective offivlietlier the talking. motion'; picture will'be moreple c running or standing still Jnfeach i'stanc. ing and will be more under the controlofthe a picture remains 'be'forefthe' eye; $1 producer -=thanhas'ever been possible-here turningihe film backwardor forward. the toiore, thus givingapproduction superio" :eixactitudeef'synchronismean bedetei'mineld? even to theso-ealled'legitimate drama f eare ary sjouna recordis 'produced, thus An gobject of this invention 'isto qiiod lic eii ablingtheelocutionist, iiiu'sicianI-orforatorf a synchronized metrical-sound recordier} to; producethe sound recordiexactly in] talkin I motion pictures I which will be posh tiv'e,= efinite, clear-cut and accurateixand A broadl new, basic pioneer and primary iea tureo. this invention-residesinthe "profduc- 'tion of a synchronized metrical sound record 1i "11g i jto correlation on the respective picby a reader reading from a .reading'jtapeture-andi' s'ouitidrecords. the time involved in whichha-sbeen metrically produced in 'syn any'porti'ofli f a picture and the sound ac- I chronism 'with a. projection of anindexed?companifrient; such portion and the space I): metrical motion picture.- That-is to say, this occupiedbythe records respectively made on I invention is a departure from prior attempts the filmandlofithe'sound record, and I'mark to produce a'synchronized sound and motion ofi" on aif" iindex tape or ribbon, spaces of picture production in that the projection of such lengththat when the tape and filmaro an indexed motion picture is used as the run synchronously, each spacel marked on basis of operation; the principle being that the ta e or ribbon will move past a given sight rather than sound, dominatesas the; point in the'same time that is required for previously formed record.

standardizing medium. In this connection-i, th'e moveme'nt o'f'the correlated spaces on I first produce an indexed motion picture the'film and on the sound record device.

film; then project the same, and-by: reference The spaces on the film, I term picture 10 to said projection produce on an indexed-units and the spaces on the sound record reading tape which is marked off into i11-' device I term sound units, and the spaces dex spaces indicating time units and being 'on the index tape or ribbon, I term time a visual index oi the sounds to' be syn-- units forthe reason that the index tape or erstood; while by H yanaw method --'the I? hronism with the action ofthepicturewitli prli lolplejof this invention isithat Ii ribbon, eirhibits to the eye the time for each picture ex osure, and each sound accompaniment or such exposure. --Where such exposures are at the rate of sixteen per second, the arrangement is such thatsixteen of the'time units will pass a given point 1n one ,second and likewise if the ..exposures are L across a certain space inexact synchronism twenty to the second, then twenty of said time units will pass such given point in each. second, so that the correspondence of move ment between the film, the sound record dewith the movement of the film: for each pic; ture frame,- and the soundaccomaniment therefor, I have made itpossijble. or one t'o absolutely and positively determine from observation of the inden tape, the accom niment appropriate to each motion pro need on the screen by projection from the picture film, so that forreprodueing synchronously i the visual action and the sound action, it is only necessary to make provision 'whe'rehythe sound record device, the-film, and the in-' dex ribbon, shall be run in exact synchronism. And when the index or time. unit ribban has been provided fertile-picture, the sound accompaniment may be composed and indexed as the picture is run,'anid the vocalist or other sound dproducer maythen pr'o duce a sound recor device to correspond to the time unit index without having to ob serve: the picture or to have the picture run whilethe sound record is being produced.

An: object of this invention therefore is to ma]:

of the sound record device may be pro need by different vocalists at widely separated times and places and then assembled and combmed for final production withthe procertaintthat the compamment can produced in synchronlsm/ Said tape com prises a metrical sound indicating strip containing an optical record of the sound accompaniment of any picture production, arranged in metrical correspondence with the appropriate tical parts of such production, and provided with scale and index markings, and adapted to run in synchronism with a sound recorder, so that by operating said tape and recorder synchronously, the person who is to produce t e sound record can read his partinto the sound recorder from the. sound indicating marks on the tape as they progress within his vision past a predetermined point; and in this way will be able to produce the requisite sound accompaniment in true time relation predeterminedby the picture action. Said-tape arrangement also serves a the spaces -'-tape to be rim slow e provision whereby different arts:-

an indeir-by which any part or portion of either the picture or of the sound record can belocated, x i

. By this means it becomes possible to locate on a sound. record device the record of the diflerent sounds, in such manner that they will. synchronize with the action of the mo- 'reproducer-ribbon or registertape that are respectively provided withnumerically corresponding spaces and with m'eans whereby upon each may be made to pass a. predetermined point in; like number at a given time; so that by correspondingly indexingthd spaces of the 'film and the ribbon or-tape, it'lS not only made possible to loc'ate any on the film by reference to the numbered space corresponding thereto on the ribbon or tape, but it"is possible by reducing the width of the aces on the ribbon of tapeas' compared wit the width of the picture-spaceson the film, to express the I number-of. spaces on the ribbon or tape with a longitudinal movement of the ribbon on tapcthat is less than that movement of,

the film which is re ired in projecting the motion picture to w ih the ribbon or tape spaces appertainl Thit allows the ribbon or nough for 'ordina writing or printing th teen to be read wit ea'se, and also allows dialogue to be broughtinto correspondence with the motion picture without drawing the writing orprint-ing out In carrying out the methodjherein in- .volved, after providing said indexed ribbon, tape and film; I cause the motion picture ,-to be produced on the film in the ordinary ection from the picture film with absolute, icture and its sound a'cway, taking care that the actors appro' riate- 1y time the dialogue to the motions t at are recorded o'nthe film; Then by use of the scenario, from which the action was pro- ,duced, and the libretto from which the dialogue and other audible sound, actions are produced, and the indexed pictures slowly projected'upon a screelu'I apply to the spaces on the tape, writt'enor printed words or other markings to indicate the sound 'lcoccur as the picture is run.

I provide a sound recorder adapted to be tion, I employ a. sound recorder timed with relation to the motion picturemachine which produced the film to which the sound act on -is to be accommodated. I

In motion picture practice at present the number of' frames projected during reproductlon is 16 er second, which equals 960 pictures per minute. I prefer to use a sound record disk of 48 revolutions per minute which represents'said' 960' pictures per minute. By dividing the circumference of the disk, or its tableimmediately outside the disk, into 20 equal segments, each segment represents the time during which one picture frame is exhibited. I

In case a cylindrical record device isnsed, the same may be madeto revolve 96 revolutions per minute, and by dividing the circ'umference into 10 equal spaces, the time for 10' picture frames .will be indicated as equal to the time for one revolution of the cylindrical record.

That is to say, in order to systematize the Work I assume that a 1,000 foot film representing 16,000 pictures isdivided into 16 parts each of which contains 1,000 pictures and is termed a film section. A film section may be made to represent any suitable number of pictu es. 3

Under the pi esent practice, each frame in a motion picture film is three-quarters of an inch. in extent along the film, thus making 16 pictures to each foot of film; and in reproduction, the film is run through the projecting machine at the rate of 1 foot, i. e.

16 pictures per second. The film is therefore applied by me, revolutions accomplishes the samework.

A- pioneer-feature of this improvement in I the art is that ,provision is made whereby the libretto can be translated into any desired language, so that the person making the sound record may make the same according to'requiremcnts irrespective of whether the actors can 'vocalize or are acquainted with the language in which the voice production is to be rendered. Furthermore the same picture may be synchronously accom panied by verbal rendition in any language or dialect.

Another advantage is that extraneous or objectionable sounds can be excluded and all desired sounds can be introduced and amplified or modified as may be determined at the time of making up for final production. Y

An advantage of the invention is the comn et segr gation of the work of producing the sound accompaniment from the work of :)1'o(luci11g'tl1e picture film. I am not aware that an attempt to attain suci advantage,

or any suggestion that such advantage could be attained has ever been heretofore made.

A further object of this invention, is the provision of means whereby the leader of. an

orchestracan be provided with a synchronized metrical music roll, by which he is enabled, through reading the music on the roll, to direct the orchestra in accordance with the movements of the motion picture, without any distraction,or'liability of mistake.

In carrying out the invention, I may numher every picture, or second or third picture, as may be deemed most expedient, and I make provision whereby the position of any part of the sound record which corresponds to; any picture,- can. be accurately determined.

An object of the invention is to so dispose the index numbers on the film as to avoid disfigurement of the picture by appearance of-the numbers."

I have discovered that the practical way to produce talking motion pictures, is to first establish a motion picture record or film and to produce a motion picture therefroi'n, and, during such motion picture production, produce the sound accompaniment for such picture production, and, by means thereof, establish a" sound record synchronized with the picture record; and then to produce from the two records, run in proper time relation to each other, both the visible and the auditory partsof the desired performance.

A pioneer andvery important feature of this improvement is the application of latitudinal and longitudinal indexing of the rotary sound record. In connection therewith I number the respective records and by these means am enabled to locate any particular sound unit in any of such records.

Other objects, advantagesand features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoincd detailed description and the appended claims.

I shall now describe the art of recording and rc nmlucin; auditory and visual action in accordance with this discovery. and certain apparatus pertaining thereto and adapted to the practice of such art: reference heing had to the accompanying drawings.

which illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan of the dialogue registering apparatus including a ill) motion picture projector and screen, a registering tape with .table therefor, and means for synchronously: moving the. tape along ments, accompanying the action of the pro jected picture, for the guidance of the person who is to subsequently produce the sound record thatwill be used'in the final.

production of sound accompanying the motion picture production of the visual action I v i I ierential scale, and with indicia thereon ur- 2 is an elevationof the reading and soun of the production.

recording apparatus including the reading tape, that is, theregistering tape with dialogue thereon, a sound rec-ord'er' 1ncludmg a recording'horn, and mechanism; for synchronous operation ofsaid tape and sound recorder.

' 3 is a e Inmatic plan of'the ifi.

bined talking an motion pictureapparatusj 1 with reproducingribbon and both wire and radio circuits. Fig. 3? is an elevation of the tran itt and reproducen-K,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged reg mental ends 1 vation part] in section, of a part offthe Ill - corresponding .in purpose to the c lindricsl U I i the tenth frame zero is applied int-he upper sound recor recording and reproducing d vice or apparatus employing a cylindertallc 111g machine a Fig. 4-151. reduced view so... nd 51 th cylinder opposite that shown in Fig. 4.

F1g.-5is a'-.;fragxnental pIan. of the double record device shown in Fig. 4 as it might appear in operation as a. sound repro'dueer.

Figs. 4, 4 and '5 show the index numbers for the scnndfrccords, the segments thereof .Q-L.'W l-S 2 V y 11p *qniglttfghand corner whi blanks or zeros andthe turnsof the record groove. h 1 Fig. 6;is a; plan of a. disk recorddevi'ce record device shown in Fig. 5; sai disk being in positionior reproduction in a disk machine, fragments of which are" talking shown. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental view of the fol-moi metrical directory for co-rlutmgand indexing the action of the scenario and the words of the libretto in In practice I provide each record, disk or cylinder on the rotary table,

yle f ten frames has beenrun. 'Wh'en 100 frames have been run,

ing ribbon for use in indexing the picture Fig. '12 is a fragmental' view ot he I metronomic means or mechanism for starting and turning the film and record in synchronism for reproduction. The record film is:

.how-n in elevation and the sound reproduce! controlling record ribbon in plan. Fig. 13 is a fragments} elevation at right angles to Fig.12.

Fig. 14 is a reduced fregmental view ofa skip number form of film. rotary sound therefor, with a metrical, segmental, circumbar-representing the number of revolutions of eeord device to complete the record or pen. thereof. i f In carrying out my Improvement 1n the art. above -ret'er'red] to, each picture, not sho'wm'will be printed in the usual W 51 uponia' suitable space or frame 1 on, the

filnr2which film is rovided with the usual s rocket holes 3. umber, spaces a,-b,--'c,

,t spaces inf digits c'runnin' from zero to Q, 1 When t e film'ha's iiuiob'erspaces oteac awe, t e ire u is numerals for numbering-such frame or its respective picture The first frame may be a-re:;left sufiiciently blanket the corners af er-flat; the junction oithe} pictur.'e frames 9.5 film to permitwthe insertion into said provided with zeroin the upper, right hand cornerfandywith blanks or ze ros neach of the';.otheroqrners. In the mmedmtely suceed i s-g rhmes the numbers :from zeroto appeanin all" of the other threecorners. In

fight hand corner' and unit '-in t he lower lilghtk hitnd corner, thus in lcatmgthat a peared successively ten times in the. upper right hand. corner; and zero \Vlll appear in h u r and lower right hand corners and unity will be applied in the lower left hand. corner, thus indicating that frames have been run. Thus the operation of numbering is continued until unity is applied in the rin said 'upper seal it;

upper left hand corner and the other three corners are supplied with zeros indicating that a film sectlon, era run of 1,000 pictures, has occurred.

The numbering may thus be continued until a desired series less 10,000 pictures has been run. In a film of 1,000 feet, there will be 16,000 pictures; and I prefer to num ber the'pictures in series of 8,000 pictures each, making 500 feet of film in each series or two series to each 1.000 foot reel. In case of a 2,000 foot film, the work would be continued in ananalogous way. The numorals may be a plied on every frame or applied across t e space between certain frames, and in any case numbers may be omitted from every other frame, or, only every third frame may be provided with numerals as shown in Fig. 14-. 1

in practice, to fit the picture film for the reception of the corner digits as shown in Fig. 12, a gated may be applied to the camera to cover a suflicientportion of the corner to allow the digits to bemarked on the film outside of that portion of the pic: ture that will appear on the screen...By omitting said gate when the picture is being projected from a film numbered in the manner indicated in-Fig. 12, the numbers of. the film will appear on the screen; excepting, however, that the digit in the upper right hand corner will be imperceptible in the normaloperation of the projecting apparatus and can only be determined when the film is slowly moving or at rest. A quick eye can catch the digit in the lower right hand corner during normal operation and the digitsin the lower left hand corner will be practically/stable, and those in the upper left hand corner will change but seldom.

The reproducing ribbon 5 is numbered as iudicated at f in accordance with the proposed numbering of the film 2; and aft-er the film has been numbered as at a, it is ready for use in inscribing a directory tape which in turn will be used in the Work of inscribing the libretto, et cet., on the reproducing ribbon 5 shown in Figs. 3 and 12, and analogous to the recording tape it andmusic roll t shown in parallelism on parallel sprocket drums 6,]? provided for each in the projector 16 and cabinet 48 respectively.

ihe rotation of said drums will cause the ribbon and the film to' travel insynchronism, andthe operator, by inspection .of the ribbon may, at any t1me,be 'ableto note thereon, the number of the picture which is being projected at that particular time, irrespective of whether the ate .4 is open or is closed, to allow. or to prevent the projection of thenumbers onto the screen; L v

In order to corelate the visual action or picture and the vocal accom animent or sound action, the picture will e roduc'ed on a film 2in the usual way, each of the actors speaking his part so as to record his lip action. '1he director or someone familiar with the scenario will providea metrical directory 'm such as is shown no Fig.

7 on which will be written theprominent parts 8 of the scenario, and 9 of the libretto in proper relation toeach other in accordance with the sound and the motion action of the play or other production. Then the registrar, with the gate 1 open, and with the metrical directory in view before him asindicated in Fig. 1, will project the picture upon the screen 8 where-on will thus be shown both thepictures and the picture numbers e and he will note the numbers approaching theaction of the scenario indicated at 8 on the metrical directory and also the dialogue 9 accompanying the same; and he will place the directory indexes 10 on the metrical directory m in juxtaposition to the inscriptions of the sound and motion parts of the production. After ageneral corelative metrical directo of the parts of the scenario and libretto has thus been prepared,

the work of applying the libretto to the indexed metrical recording tape a shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 11 will he proceeded with. Said tape isprovidedwithsprocket holes 11 corresponding tothe s rocket holes f the picture film, and is a so provided with time units or numeral spaces 12, 12 and with the text space 13 which is set off with numbered transverse space lines 14 corresponding numerically to the picture-frames 1,-and respectively marking the exact time for each picture to be projected.

ccrresponds to the space representing the duration of the sound for of a second. @orrespondingly if twenty pictures are run through the picture machine in one; second of time, the time unit on the picture film wouid be. one picture-and the time unit cor responding thereto, would be 1/20 of a secend and the sound unit would be the; space occupied on the sound film or record for 1/20- one second. This is applicable to Incas urements on wires, ribbons, films and disks. the tape is thus divided into narrow:

. r a I a I spaces the numbers of which are indicated in the index spaces 12 and 12'. l

by the index time unit numbers 15 and 15 he 1, de numbers are read byreading' the numeral in the space 12 as thousands, hundreds and tens and the index numbers: in the spaces 12' as units. For example, by observing the underscoring in Figt it is length of of a second and the sound unit seen that the sound represented by the word John b ins at No. 990 and the sound re resent by I begins at No. 1018.

his text writer or registrar will then slowly run the numbered picture film throughthe projector lfi while the slide 4: is open, so that the numbers on the successive picture frames will appear on the screen. He will operate the projector slowly by suitable meme, as by a detachable crank 16'; and by consulting the metrical directory, for concurrent parts of the scenario and libretto, he will. apply the words of the libretto to the tape in correspondence to the picture and the verbal scenario 8; and will place on the numbered space of the tape, the

sound marks or words 9 of the libretto cor responding to the action indicated by the words 8 i the scenario and in accordance with the numbered individual picture which is being progjected; This will be done slowly as may be required, the inscription being applied to the tape as it passes a definite point 24. The beginning and ending of each word is indicated by an underscore 19 or- 19; the same being lines extending along the tape or strip and the tape will thus be provided with the text of the libretto in exact accordance withthe appearance on the screeh. Thisis indicated in Fig. 9 where the dialogue "is represented as consisting of sung quickly.

the two sentences 17 and 18, one of which consists of one long and two shortly spoken words "-J'ohn, go home and the second with the reply sung to the tune I went go home til morning. i 1

The registrar will indicate the appropriate location and time value of the spoken words by the under scores 19, 1 9', which'ar'enof greater or less length, depending upon the tion of each word with relation to the pic ",ture on the screen can be graphically placed on the tape t, before the eye of the registrar and eventually before the eye of the recorder operating the recording apparatus shown in Fig.2.

In Fg. the music score 20 is shown as applied across the metrical index spaces 21 on a music roll t which can 'be'moved in synchronisn i with the action and the dialogue for the direction of the orchestra leader in 7laying accompanying music.

. helm the tape t has been prepared as" above described, it will be connected to ru n eague synchronously with a sound. recording device either ol? the cylindrica'hor of the disk type as indicated at 22 or 23, 'or of the film or ribbon type; and the parts arose arranged that during the operation ofthe record de:

vice the numbers 15, 15on the tape will synchronize with the numbers n, p, p,.or g, on the record device or the table 23 and the radial arm 1 thus-affording for the record a latitudinal and a longitudinal index as at n, p, Fig. 6, and' n, p and a, '0, Figs. 4, P and 5.

' The recorder will then cause synchronous operation of the tape and tlie sound record device, and will read into the sound recorder the words of the text as they. pass the stationary index hand 24 of the recorder. In this way a sound record may be produced in perfect synchronism with the picture action, and the recorder may do this work perfectly with or without sight of the picture.

This operation may be performed in a studio by a vocal artist without any interference whatever with the artists who produce the picture; th8' voice employed may be suited to the purpose for which the pic ture-gis to be used, and the vocal artist can speak the different parts at the appropriate times by simply pronouncing the, words of the libretto as they pass the-pointer 24.

If desired, one tape may be sup lied with various translations of the text so t hat differpnt readers canmake different sound records in difl'erent languages,;as English, French, et 0%.; each of which can be supplied with the-same pictuirefilm' for 'u'se before audiences of dilf-erent languagesrespectively.

In' Fig.3 the rotary soundrecords 22, 22, 22' ,'22" "ore shown as being controlled by the ribbon?) which is provided with a lurality or slots 25 arranged at appropriate intervals along the ribbon 5'to actuate the electrodes'26 shown. in Fi'g."1 2.. From the nature'of the viewsfonly one of the slots is shown.

The electrical transmitter diaphragms j By reference to Fig." "19,v the metronomic means which synchronously operates the picture unit film and th'e'soun-d 'unit record, will be understood. J

for the several rotary sound reproducers 22,

43 indicatesa motor for driving the projecting and sound reproducing andtransmitting apparatuslv The shaft 4&{ drives the film 2', and by the pinion 45 meshing with the gear 46, drives the shaft 28 at a reducedspeed to operate the mandrels 47 and also the ribbon. 5 of the sound reproducing and transmitting apparatus. 1

The bus-bar and the scale, plate are. shown in Fig. 5 as carrying two sets 56, of numerals indicating from zero to IOOLturns' of the record groove. The records 22 shown,

are ofdouble length and each is consider'edf as two record sections and consequently the numerals n on the bus-bar and p, g on the scale plate, are arranged in twoseries corresponding to the double sections of each sound record and the sections of'lthe film. It is thus seenthat the work of producing the talking motion picture is reduced by this discovery and invention to a few simple principles and an exact application; and that in practice the following course is followed 1st. The motion picture film is produced in the usual way. a 2nd. The pictures or frames of the film are numbered so that they may be indexed 3rd. A register tape having nibered sections correspondingto the numb red pic tures of the filmis run insynchronism with the film while thefilm is slowlyirun to project the pictures successively jon a, screen: and during such projection the registrar writes upon the tape at a place indicated by the stationary pointer 24. the dialogue-or other sound action which is to accompany the picture action. This operation-is indi: cated in Fig.1. a

4th. Next the reader or sound recorderv runs the record device in synchronismwith the inscribed tape at the speed required for reproduction and reads into the record horn 5? the dialogueto accom any the motion picture as the words of t e dialogue pass a stationary po nt corresponding to that.

above referred to. lVhen one record device is filled the apparatus is stopped by throwmg the switch 58. The tape may have slots 25 adapted to :mtomatically throw successive rotary sound record devices into'oper'ation. T he recording. may be done with the-mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the diaphragm used .being in that instance a recording diaphragm while the reproduction is provided. for by using reproducing phonographic diaphragms as reproducers and usng. transmitting telephonic diaphragms 59 inserted in the tone arm 'w of the reprodu'cer as n Fig.- 6, as transmitters. Y

5th; The pictureifilm is ins'erted'into the projector 16 withits zero picture frame thrown on the screen, and the sound records that have'been produced are placed upon the mandrels of the. reproducing apparatus shown in Fig, 3.with all ofsaid records at zero. That-is to vsaythe diaphragms 30 all beingplaced at zero, the ribbon or tape 5 will be placed in position with the first slot.

25 in position allow the electrodes for throwing the first clutch to engage, thus causingthe'sound record to be operated in synchronismwith the film when the motor isoperated. v-Sai'd ribbon 5 hasthe slots arranged at'the beginning of each sound; record device,so thatlwhen one record is exhausted thecl-utch' for the next record will beengaged sothatthe second "record operates instead oi the firstg a d soon tolthe end'o'f the performance -J The metrical indexing herein shown applies to all forms of'recordingand reproduc in staggered r'elationq'so.jthat the eye willdistinguish them readily as the strip moves along'in front oil the operator.

I-claim.

1. in the art ofmetriical optic and acoustic recording for reproduction, the method set forth of recording sounds to be reproduced as an accompaniment to afmotion picture;

'which method comprises providing a ribbon with numbered spaces numerically corresponding with the spacings of the picture film to be used in connection with the sound reproduc tion; said spaces being of reduced. width relative to the picture spaces or frames on the film; applying to said ribbon a readabie record of the sounds to accompany the pictures, respectively; placing the parts of the readable record that are appropriate i l i to predetermined parts of the picture produc- I tion, across the spacings which represent.

the picture reproduction; then running-the ribbon at a speed which is relatively slow compared with the normal speed of the film in producing the picture to be accompanied; so that during a period correspondingto a predetermined period or picture production, theribbon' will move at such a speed as to allow the person acting as sound recorder, to

read the record in time with the proposed a picture production.

2. In the art of metrical optic and acoustic recording for reproduction, the method set forth of recording sounds to be reproduced as an accompaniment to a motion picture; which method comprises providing a ribbon with numbered spaces numerically corres nding with the spacings'of the picture ft m to be used in connection with the sound reproduction; said spaces being of reduced width relative to the picture spaces or frames -on-the film; applying to said ribbon a readable record of the sounds to accompany the pictures, respectively; placing the parts of the readable record that are appropriate to predetermined parts of the picture production, across the spacings which repre sent the picture reproduction; then running the ribbon at a speed which is" relatively slow compared with the normal speed of the film in producingthe picture to be accompanied; so that during a period corresponding to a predetermined-j'period of picture production, the ribbon will move at such a speed as 'teallow the person acting as sound recorder, to read the record in time with the proposed picture production; then sound accompaniment of the-picture production, arranged in metrical relation to the. appropriate optical parts ofsuch produc uon.

4. In the art of metrical, optical and acoustic recording, a reading tape synchronized with a picture production for use in sound record production; said tape comprising a metrical sound indicating strip contaming a written record of the sound accom paniment of the picture production arranged in metrical relation with the appropriate optical parts of such production; and provided with a scale and index marks and adapted to run in synchronism with the sound -reoorder so that by operating the said tape and record synchronously, the person who is to produce the sound record can read his partinto the sound recorder-from the sound in-v dicating marks on the tape as they progress within his vision past a predetermined point thereby to produce the requisite sound accompaniment in true-time relation predetermined by the picture.

5. Apparatus for use in the'art of optic and acoustic recording and reproducing,-

oompri'sing indexed metrical sound reproduc= mg means, 1ndexed metrical picture PIOjBQting means and a metrical index readingtape therefor, in combination with means adapted;

to synchronously operate'the picture pro 1,631,450 r i T jecting means and said sound reproducing means. .1 i y .6. In the art of producing talking motion pictures; a strip provided with transverse lines to represent picture frame spaces; index numbers for said spaces; sound marks alongsaid strip; and lines extending along the strip and across the spaces to indicate the period of picture exhibitions covered by parts of' the sound action.

the art of producing talking motion pictures; a strip provided with transverse in'es to' represcnt picture frame spaces; inden numbers for said spaces; sound marks along {said strip; and lines extending along the "strip and across the spaces to indicate the period of'picture exhibitions covered by partsof the sound action; said lines being in staggered'relation'to each other. 1

1n the art of producing talking motion pictures the combination of an indexed metricalphotograph-ic-film; an indexed metrical recordin'g "tape; and-San indexed metrical sound producingdevice synchronously operated with, said film-and said tapejand including the combination of a segmental circumferential iindex for said soundproducing device,and" a'longitudinal metrical in jdexed sound record device for use in the preparing: afnd fp' roducing of an optical and audecry-performance, "and providing means determined wit out operating the photo rica'l, optie'l'a'nd acoustic recording for re rosecute, fas-fset forth, comprising means tori-recording fandfreproducing sounds; said mcans includin'ga'record device marked off to represent" sound units, a picture film markedtosin-dicatepicture units and an index strip marked off to represent time units, substantially as set forth;said units being definitely and correspondingly marked and coordinated by corresponding ordinals so that production with reference to the sounds represented by the sound units can be made to coordinate with production of pictures by the picture unit without confusion.

1 0 In the art of reproducing sounds accompanied motion pictures, the method of producing a sound record to accompany the motion picture film, which consists in first consecutively numbering the picture frames on 'the film; second moving a register ribbon having numbers corresponding to those shown on the picture film and relatively spaced accord ng to the pictures on the film, V

and marking upon the register ribbon, indi-' cations of the sounds appropriate to the action exhibited by the pictures, respectively,

graphic filnrandthe sound producing depredetermined ortionof the film may be in the art of meton the motion picture film; third causing a projection of a motion picture from the fifn,

r and moving the register ribbon to bring the numbered sections thereon to view in con sonance with the correspondingly numbered 'frames as the picture 1s projected, and simultaneously gfoducing sounds in accordance with those 1n 'cated on the register rlbbon as the register ribbon is brought into rede- V termlned position respectively, for suc pronized withv t e motion picture pro ection;-

and then using the reading tape as a guide for producing a sound accompaniment to the picture projection.

12. Apparatus for producing talking motion pictures comprising a mechanically driven reading record having markings indicating the time in which its parts shall be read, and mechanically driven motion picducing mechanism, marked, adapted, and arranged to operate in time with the reading record.

13. The apparatus substantially set forth, comprising a film marked ofi into indexed picture units; a sound record device marked ofi into indexed sound units, corresponding to the picture units; a reading tape marked ofi into indexed time unit spaces; and mechanism adapted to alternatively run the picture record in'synchronism with the indexed film at one time and with the indexed sound record at another time so that the reading tape may at the one time be marked to indicate the sounds appropriate to the picture, and at another time may be run synchronously with the sound record device to enable the sound record to be produced thereon accordingto the index.

In testimon whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at os Angeles, California, this 29th day of January 1920.

oYRUs NEWTON ANDREWS.

ture projection mechanism and sound pro- 

